Glazed building block



' Jan; 6, 1942. E, s, GUIGNQ, JR 2,269,018

GLAZED BUILDING BLOCK Filed Feb.. 19,` 1940 INVENTOIL /.lf. j'. 577/79 .5.' 6%/ /70/7, ./zr,

l BY D ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 6, 1942 UNITED STATES' PATENT` oFFlcE 2,269,013 y Gmzxm BUILDING nLocx Emile S. Guignon, Jr., Kansas City. Mo.

Application February 19, 1940, Serial No. 319,703l

(Cl. 'i2-44) Ciaima.

This invention relates to buildings and particularly units in the nature of blocks that are formed to be combined with a relatively rigid supporting structure, and the primary object is to provide Vsuch a building block which has means for holding comparatively fragile face plates thereon and elements for absorbing any unexpected shock or twisting of the supporting frame sothat said face plates will not be subjected to strain causing cracks or breaks.

One of the important aimsof this invention is to provide a building block in the nature of that disclosed in my United States Letters Patent No. 2,134,941, dated November 1, 1938, but which has as a part thereof, means for receiving a face plate on each side respectively thereof, which means is associated with the remaining part of the block in such fashion as to preclude the transmission of objectionable movement of the framework to the end that the block itself protects the face plates carried thereby.

Another object of this invention is the provi sion of a unit for buildings which is formed to be received by a relatively rigid framework and which hasl as a part thereof, resilient elements adapted to contact the parts of the framework so that any movement of the latter will be absorbed and not transmitted to the fragile face' plates of theblock.

This invention has for another important object the provision of a building block formed to be glazed so that the building created therefrom will present the same appearance as though Lstructural glass were secured directly to a supporting wall as is now the custom.

Other objects of the invention will appear during the coursepf the following specification, re-I ferring to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a building wall comprising in part, a number of tion 6 and that are tied together by horizontal rods i6 placed at intervals throughout the height of the building wall.

Members 6 and I6 of the framework are formed to be completely concealed by the blocks when the structure is completed, and as illustrated in Fig. 3. The'contour of certain elementsof the block is suchvasto engage vertical members 6 for example, to the end that support is gained for 'each individual block.

Rods I6 may be large enough in diameter to engage elements I2 of the block and therefore, definitely preclude one block from resting upon the unit directly therebelow.

Referring specifically to the illustrated embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the numeral i2 designates the arcuate, resilient elements, which combine to form a circumscribing frame, the sides of which are closed by members i6, welded or otherwise secured as at i6 to elements i2.'

The space between side members I6 is preferably lled-with insulating material i6 that may be introduced through holes 26 formed in elestructural g building blocks each made to embody the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a glazed building block, parts being broken away for cleamess; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view through a portion of the buildingl wall taken on line III-III of Fig. 1.

The blocks about to be described, are arranged for mounting upon a relatively rigid framework in the nature of that shown and described vin my co-pending application, Serial No. 237,913, filed October 31, 1938. This building structure comprises a number of vertical members 6, each of ments i2.

Out-tumed flanges 22 formed at the edges of the unit m receive either a face plate 26 of or a face plate 26 of any material having a desired finish on the surface thereof.

In' the instance shown, face plate 26 is a pan-like member having a continuous laterallyA extending flange 26 at the edges thereof, which overlap flanges 22 and through which pass screws 36 to removably maintain face plate 26 in position. Obviously, when the block is formed and before face plates 26 or 26 are assembled therewith, the whims of the builder may be met and h`e may cover the surface of the wall by mounting either the structural'glass face plate 26 on eac'h block, or the enameled 'or otherwise finished plate 26.

The side members i6 should have a number of holes 62 formed therethrough to serve as teeth or anchoring elements for a plastic 66 that may be spread thereover before placing structural glass 26 upon the'hlock.

Flanges 22 embrace face plate 26 and support is gained therefor from the lowermost flange of each block. Manifestly, therefore, adjacent sheets of material 26 are not in direct contact 'with each other and the space therebetween part of which is occupied by flanges 22. may be filled with plastic or other suitable material if neces- SM'Y.

The resilient property of elements i2 which lie Vwhich extends upwardly from a suitable foundadirectly adjacent' to the parts of the building framework, insures that any destructive strains might be otherwise transmitted to the face plates 24 or 26 and dissipated before damage can be done.

Screws 3U are employed when face plate 2G is positioned on the block before constructing the building but if it is contemplated that a different facing may be desired on all or a part of the building wall, these screws may be eliminated and the pan-shaped face plate 26 snapped into place without the use of elements such as screws 30 and through the employment of friction established by a tight llt arising from the telescoping arrangement between face plate 26 and flanges 22.

It is conceivable that blocks different than those illustrated and described, and which are provided with glazed surfaces protected by the block per se, might be made without departing from the Spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l, A block of the character described for buildings having a rigid framework, said block comprising two opposed, spaced apart side members; resilient elements between the said members at the edges thereof, in connection therewith to hold the members in spaced relation and formed to engage the framework of the building-to gain support for the block; outwardly extending flanges on each side of the block respectively at the periphery thereof; and a face plate held in place by said flanges over each side member respectively.

2. A block of the character described comprising a pair of polygonal, spaced apart, opposed side members; resilient inwardly arched elements at the edges of said members, in connection therewith, to hold the same in spaced relation; outwardly extending, opposed, flanges on one side of the block at the periphery thereof; and a relatively fragile face plate on said side of the block, said face plate being held in place in part by said flanges.

3. A block of the character described comprising a pair of polygonal, spaced apart, opposed side members; resilient inwardly arched elements at the edges of said members, in connection therewith, to hold the same in spaced relation; outwardly extending flanges on each side of the block respectively at 'the periphery thereof; and a relatively fragile face plate on one side of the block, said face plate being held in place in part by the flanges of said one side, said face plate being a sheet of structural glass having means between one face thereof and the underlying side members for further assisting in holding the glass in place.

4. A block of the character described comprising a pair of polygonal, spaced apart, opposed side members; resilient inwardly arched elements at the edges of said members, in connection therewith, to hold the same in spaced relation; outwardly extending flanges on each side of the block respectively at the periphery thereof; and a dished plate overlying one of the said members having the edges thereof overlapping and secured to the said flanges at the periphery of said one side. l

5` A block of the character described for buildings having a rigid frame work, said block comprising two opposed, spaced apart side members; elements between the said members at the edges thereof', in connection therewith, to hold the members in spaced relation, and formed to engage the rigid frame work of the building to gain support for the block; face plates overlying the side members; and means for holding the face kplates in position, said elements having holes fmitherein for introducing a filling between the side 

